Tag Archives: Comedy Festival

Award-winning British comedian, Sarah Callaghan is making her way to New Zealand for the first time this NZ International Comedy Festival. A true powerhouse in comedy and poetry, her show promises an hour filled with laughs about gangs, fitting right in and feeling left out.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Very fucking good.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
The world is fucked, and people are becoming more and more segregated and I’m just calling out the bullshit whilst reflecting on my own passions and life. I’m trying to do something different this year as well as it being a very funny and heartfelt show.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Eating or sleeping.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
I have never been but heard it’s pretty sexy so I’d give it a ‘super like’. #cometomyfuckingshow

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I like Rhys Nicholson’s stuff. He makes me laugh a lot! But he’s doing pretty well at the moment so just come to my show instead. My show is my top pick.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Ricky Gervais’ show Humanity. I saw it live at The Hammersmith Apollo in London too – it was incredible.

Like so many other Asian children before him, James Roque is a disappointment to his parents. He followed his dreams instead of following the path to become a respected M.D (Doctor of Medicine). Despite that, he has a career to boast about; since making his NZ International Comedy Festival debut in 2013, he’s gone on to perform at every festival since (including his acclaimed and sold out 2017 show), he’s appeared on television, including Three’s 7 Days and Jono and Ben, and he’s a co-founder of Proudly Asian Theatre – a theatre company dedicated to showcasing more Asian-NZ stores on stage. And if that wasn’t enough, he played the lead role in Indian Ink Theatre’s Kiss the Fish, which has toured New Zealand ad USA. So what if he’s not a doctor; they say that laughter is the best medicine.

We caught up with James ahead of his 2018 NZICF season.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Dope Filipino dude.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
Last year I started pronouncing my Filipino last name correctly for the first time in 17 years and it’s got me thinking about what the immigrant experience is like in the western world.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Out here following my dreams

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
Are you asking me if I want to have sex with the entire NZ Comedy industry? How do we even go about that? Seems like a logistical nightmare.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I’m really excited to see Rose Matafeo’s new show. Her last show was my favourite thing in the festival last year, so I’m keen to see what she’s got next. Also, hype for Rhys Nicholson and Phil Wang.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The scene from 8 Mile when he vomits his mum’s spaghetti before the battle

James Roque performs 1 – 5 May at Wellington’s The Fringe Bar and 8 – 12 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre with his solo show. He also performs with Frickin Dangerous Bro 2 – 5 May at Wellington’s BATS Theatre, and 9 – 12 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre. All as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo. Buy your tickets – Legal Alien | Humble.

James Smith is an accomplished comedian; born in Australia and now living in New York, he boasts a jaw-dropping CV. Aside from appearing on Comedy Central, ABC, Conan on TBS and Flight of the Conchords, James has shared the stage with comedy greats like Jerry Seinfeld and Louis CK. He was even chosen as the special guest on Chris Rock’s Australasian Tour in 2017. The accomplishments go on – he has written joes for Rob Lowe and Justin Bieber’s comedy roast and has even featured in Time magazine for his political outlook during Obama’s administration.

James will be in New Zealand for one night only with his new show, Pleasure Enthusiast. We had the pleasure of his company for a good five minutes.

Describe your show in three words or less…
Hilarious & thought provoking.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
I think life is unnecessary difficult and that it should only include pleasure.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Restaurants

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
Right

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I haven’t seen the program yet.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
New York State of Mind – Billy Joel.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Atlanta but it’s not on Netflix.

Like a good Sauvignon, Marcel Lucont is crisp, dry, and French. A figurehead of the NZ International Comedy Festival, Marcel is returning to our shores with two shows this year. For one night only, Marcel will perform his sold-out 2016 hit show Whine list – where he blends his sarcastic wit, poems and storytelling with gallic, deadpan delivery (read our 2016 review). He’ll also have a longer run of his new show, Marcel Lucont Etc., a chat show in which the multi-award deserving flâneur will interview different guests, every night. The show promises classy poetry, music, and bawdy badinage!

We were fortunate enough to get 5 minutes with Marcel ahead of his return to New Zealand.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Marcel Lucont Etc.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
While my talents cannot be bettered, they can certainly be complimented, by working with a live band (live is always preferable to the alternative). Also, by inviting lesser acts from the festival on the show as guests I get to highlight not only my superiority, but also my altruism.

Where will we find you during the festival?
At The Loft at Q Theatre (Auckland) May 2-5 and San Fran (Wellington) May 8,9 and 11. I shall also be resurrecting Marcel Lucont’s Whine List for one night at Rangatira at Q Theatre (Auckland) May 1.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
It depends on which door they are blocking and where I need to be.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
If you cannot make Marcel Lucont’s Whine List I would highly recommend Marcel Lucont Etc.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
“Je M’Appelle Marcel,” not only the opening song from Marcel Lucont Etc., but also from my latest album, “Flâneur, Raconteur, Bon-Viveur,” most certainly available for purchase after the show.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Both of these are alien concepts to me. I am currently “binge-living” in “reality.”

And your top 3 songs on Spotify?
Again, I feel this questionnaire is not fully bespoke to me. Come to me when we are talking of records on a record player.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Smoke enough opium to drift off to sleep.

Marcel Lucont performs Whine List 1 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre. He also performs Marcel Lucont Etc. 2 – 5 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre, and 8 – 11 May at Wellington’s San Fran as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo. Buy your tickets to Whine list here and Marcel Lucont Etc. here.

After selling out shows at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Scottish comedian, Fern Brady is making her NZ debut with her whip-smart, bold, brash, and sometimes brutal show, Suffer Fools. Expect passionate honesty intertwined with views on politics and personal relationships. As seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats (in case you’ve never heard of it, that’s a big deal!).

Describe your show in three words or less…
Honest, blunt, dark

What’s the inspiration behind it?
I was wishing I was thinner then I realised the two times in my life when I’ve been proper skinny were the two unhappiest times of my life where I was nuts, so I wrote a show about it. I’m not really selling it, but I swear it’s funny and it’s the first show I’ve done where a lot of women came to see me, before that I was almost exclusively getting a lot of bearded gamer guys (you’re all still welcome, by the way).

Where will we find you during the festival?
In a basement, apparently.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
I know this is about a dating app but I’ve been going out with someone so long I haven’t used the apps, I’ve only ever met people the olden days way of getting drunk and lunging at them.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I want to see Rose Matafeo

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The film Fish Tank except I haven’t pumped Michael Fassbender.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
I didn’t think I’d like a wrestling show, but I loved Glow and Marc Maron is shockingly good in it.

The NZ International Comedy Festival is nearly upon us, and after the Billy T James preview, I can safely say that it’s going to be fantastic. With few exceptions, the Billy T award nominees list for 2018 is female-dominated, and – if the audience is anything to go by – you will love every minute of it.

Fans hoping for a taste of last year’s winner’s uniquely creepy comedic stylings were rewarded with a closer from the truly unique Angella Dravid, while previous winner Rhys Matheson made triple duty look easy as warm-up man, emcee and comedy pro in his own right. You’ve been warned – now check the programme and book, because the future is female, with a stellar future.

The NZICF runs from 26th April – 20th May 2018. For a full line-up of shows in NZ Ithe Festival, as well as all further information head to the Comedy Fest website.

It’s that special time of year when comedians from across the globe descend upon our great land for the NZ International Comedy Festival. Like the years that have passed, this one is no different; there’s a plethora of great comedians to choose from. To help you out, we’ve listed some of our top picks below.

Lyrical tales from the road mixed with iffy wordplay and first-rate bullsh*t. Alexis has been seen on Comedy Central At The Comedy Store, Set List, The John Bishop Show, Ricky Gervais’ Derek and Red Dwarf.

Looking to check out some international talent but don’t know where to start? May we introduce Edinburgh Fringe heros, Lauren Pattison, Fin Taylor, Phil Wang and Ian Smith from the UK, all packaged together as part of the Big (two hour) show.

After completing a phenomenal 100 date sell-out 2017/2018 tour and becoming the first Asian stand-up to play a sold-out show at London’s Wembley Arena, comedy powerhouse and star of Taskmaster, Live at The Apollo and Stand Up for the Week, Paul Chowdhry will be coming to New Zealand. Hurry, this will sell out!

Love him or hate him, he’s back for another year. Billy T Award winner David Correos has developed a reputation for delivering a maelstrom of comedy that has seen him get five star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe. This is full noise, powerful, messy comedy; defying genre and labels. Sometimes it’s paint, sometimes cinnamon, could be a bread knife – it’s hysterical nonsense.

mac+mae

mac+mae is brought to you by people with a passion for fashion, design, arts, music and all things creative. we want to profile all the new and emerging talent in aotearoa - to give the freshest creatives a chance to lift their profile.

get in touch to tell us about your work and to share your recommendations. contributions from writers, designers, photographers are always welcome.